(CNN) – President Barack Obama, responding to criticism from his rival Mitt Romney on the U.S. response to attacks in Egypt and Libya, said Romney had spoken before making a full assessment of the facts.

"There's a broader lesson to be learned here," Obama said in a CBS interview. A clip of the interview was aired Wednesday afternoon.FULL POST

Washington (CNNMoney) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Wednesday that Democrats in Congress should use strong-arm tactics on Republicans to balance federal deficits and pull the nation from its economic malaise.

Bloomberg, an independent who has belonged to both parties, blamed "both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue" for undermining a full economic recovery. His comments were made in an appearance at the Economic Club of Washington.

Fairborn, Ohio (CNN) - Vice President Joe Biden forcefully responded at a campaign event on Wednesday to the violence that killed four American diplomats in Libya. In his remarks, Biden offered both prayers and praise for those who lost their lives, then transitioned to his standard political critique against his Republican rivals.

"I feel like it's necessary to begin on somewhat of a somber note with a word about the news out of Libya and out of Egypt," Biden said early on.FULL POST

(CNN) – Has Mitt Romney twisted the narrative of Tuesday's attacks at U.S. missions in Libya and Egypt?

A timeline of the events suggests Romney was wrong in his accusation that the Obama administration's "first response" on Tuesday was one of sympathy for those who started the violence itself–as the violence came after the first statement was published.FULL POST

(CNN) – Mitt Romney's harsh chiding of President Barack Obama's response to attacks in Libya and Egypt spurred a firestorm of backlash Wednesday from Democrats, who claim the GOP candidate is politicizing a tragedy that killed four, including the United States ambassador, in U.S. offices in Benghazi, Libya.

Following reports of the violence Tuesday, Romney's campaign released a statement calling the U.S. response "disgraceful." Romney delivered remarks Wednesday in Florida continuing his criticism.FULL POST

De Pere, Wisconsin (CNN) – Mitt Romney's running mate Paul Ryan, speaking at a campaign event in Wisconsin, condemned the deadly attacks on U.S. missions in Egypt and Libya on Tuesday while also accusing President Barack Obama of projecting weakness abroad.

The Republican opened his De Pere town hall on Wednesday with a mention of the "disturbing" news out of the Middle East. It was his first solo question-and-answer session with voters since becoming Mitt Romney's running mate.FULL POST

(CNN) – Mitt Romney's decision to comment on the diplomatic attacks in the Middle East is revealing a split among Republicans who differ over the GOP nominee's remarks on the violence.

"Too quick to politicize over faulty reporting initially. Too quick to politicize (the) death of foreign service officers. Makes him appear not ready," is how one top adviser to John McCain's 2008 campaign put it to CNN.FULL POST

De Pere, Wisconsin (CNN) - Facing criticism for its aggressive and politically-charged response to Tuesday's violent attacks on the American embassies in Egypt and Libya, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign is quietly advising Republicans how to respond to questions about the campaign's handling of the episode.

In talking points currently being pushed to Republican leaders and top surrogates, the Romney campaign recommends attacking President's Obama "foreign policy of weakness" and dismissing questions about how the campaign responded to the crisis last night.FULL POST